BIO508 - Evolution

Syllabus BIO508 - EVOLUTION - Fall 2009

http://salamander.uky.edu/srvoss/508f09/

Instructor: Randal Voss, BBSRB 453

Place: BS 108, 11:00 am

Format: Lecture, Discussion, Quizes, Current literature, Presentations, Demonstrations, Writing

Objective: To cover concepts of evolutionary biology, primarily considering molecular data and genetic/genomic approaches.

Required Book: Evolutionary Analysis, 4th Edition, Freeman and Herron 2007

Undergraduate Student Course Requirements and Grading (100 points total: A=90-100; B=80-89; C=70-79; D=60-69; F<60):

60%	Four Exams (including Final): Exams will consist of a few short answer questions, problems, and short essay questions. You will be tested on material from previous lectures and required reading. For example, Exam 1 will contain material from Aug 26– Sep 16.
10%	Ten Quizes: Quizes will be based on the assigned readings. See syllabus for dates. The lowest 2 quiz scores will be dropped.
15%*	Thirty-minute lecture/presentation: Students (in groups of two) will present the results of a scientific paper to the class.
10%**	Five page paper (double-spaced) on a topic of choice. Paper must include 5 references from the peer-reviewed scientific literature.
5%	*Attendance:* Attendance will be taken on 5 different days (unannounced). For each day you are present, you will receive 1 point.

Graduate Student Course Requirements and Grading (100 points total: A=90-100; B=80-89; C<80):

60%	Four Exams (including Final): Exams will consist of a few short answer questions, problems, and short essay questions. You will be tested on material from previous lectures and required reading. Graduate student exams will differ from undergraduate exams (higher degree of difficulty).
10%	Ten Quizes: Quizes will be based on the assigned readings. See syllabus for dates. The lowest 2 quiz scores will be dropped.
15%*	Thirty-minute lecture/presentation: Evolutionary topic to be determined.
15%**	Five page grant proposal on topic of choice. Students must OK the topic with the instructor and meet with the instructor at least 1 time while preparing the proposal.

* Groups of 2 students will be responsible for leading a 30 minute discussion of a paper from the literature. You will be graded on your presentation. You will have access to slide, overhead, and laptop support. Contact me well a week ahead of your scheduled time to arrange these. During your presentation, you should provide a short background introduction to the problem that the paper addresses, explain how the problem was addressed in the paper, and explain the results. You should allow for 5-10 minutes of time at the end of your presentation for questions, as students will want to ask questions given that they will have also read the paper. Material from these papers/presentations will be on the exams.

**Undergraduate students will write a 5-page paper (double spaced); graduate students will write a 5-page grant proposal (single spaced). The topic must be approved by me. At least five sources must be used, and three of these sources should be original papers found in a refereed evolutionary journal or journal that accepts evolutionary papers. The other three sources may be books. Note, the sources must be in hard printed form; I will not accept web-sites as sources. Papers will be due by 4 pm Dec 11. Late papers will lose 1 grade (10%) per day (a perfect paper received one day late will receive a 90%). Although optional, I urge students to turn in rough drafts of their paper no later than October 16. Although no points will be given for the rough draft, I will make comments to help you revise and improve your paper. I will make every attempt to return your rough draft within one week of receiving it.

POLICY ON MISSED ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMS

The following are defined as excused absences:

Significant illness of the student or serious illness of a member of the student's household (permanent or campus) or immediate family. The instructor shall have the right to request appropriate verification.
The death of a member of the student's household (permanent or campus) or immediate family. The instructor shall have the right to request appropriate verification.
Trips for members of student organizations sponsored by an academic unit, trips for University classes, and trips for participation in intercollegiate athletic events. When feasible, the student must notify the instructor prior to the occurrence of such absences, but in no case shall such notification occur more than one week after the absence. Instructors may request formal notification from appropriate University personnel to document the student's participation in such trips.
Major Religious Holidays. Students are responsible for notifying the instructor in writing of anticipated absences due to their observance of such holidays no later than the last day for adding a class.
Any other circumstance which the instructor finds reasonable cause for nonattendance.

Students missing work due to an excused absence bear the responsibility of informing the instructor about their excused absence within one week following the period of the excused absence (except where prior notification is required), and of making up the missed work. The instructor shall give the student an opportunity to make up the work and/or the exams missed due to an excused absence, and shall do so, if feasible, during the semester in which the absence occurred. The student shall be given the opportunity to make up exams missed due to an excused absence during the semester in which the absence occurred, if feasible. In those instances where the nature of the course is such that classroom participation by the student is essential for evaluation, the instructor shall, if feasible, give the student an opportunity to make up the work missed during the semester in which the absence occurred.

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY, CHEATING, AND PLAGIARISM

Academic honesty is expected of all students; plagiarism and other forms of cheating are absolutely unacceptable.

CLASSROOM BEHAVIOR